Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

7 L. BALLBAGH.

THILL COUPLING.

N0. 55'6,173. Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

Im/Vemior Iowa; 1 0022560022 a iv W 4 I a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS BALLBAOH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,173, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed September 24, 1895- Serial No. 563,4.91 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS BALLBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful- Improvements in Thill- Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of a thill-coupling, and particularly in a device in which separable jaws or draft-plates are used which are adapted to engage over a fixed or integral pin on the thill-iron, whereby the use of the usual removable couplingbolt is avoided.

The invention further consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts whereby the device is simplified, cheapened, and improved, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through an axle and my improved coupling thereon. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 00 cc, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of my device detached.

A is the axle-clip, embracing-the axle and having screw-threaded ends projecting below the same.

The axle-clip acts to hold the coupling-jaws or draft-plates B on the axle. These jaws have the interlocking offsets O at their rear ends, which offsets are separated sufficiently to permit one end of the axle-clip to pass between them and behind the axle D, a suitable nut E serving to clamp the rear end of the jaws together and upon the axle. The upper edge of the jaws have a notched bearing F, in which the lower edge of the axle engages.

The front bolt of the axle-clip passes between the jaws B and through a clip-plate G, suitably apertured to permit the passage of the bolt, the nut II clamping the plate on the jaws. This plate has the lugs or pins I on each side, which project up beside the jaws and serve to prevent them from spreading. These lugs are preferably notched out, as shown at .I, to prevent cutting the axle.

K is the thill-iron, having a head L, having formed integral therewith the pins M on each side, which pins pass through apertures or bearings N in the front of the jaws.

O is a spring having the friction-arms P and base Q. The friction-arms are adapted to bear against the face of the thill-iron head, while the base engages with the lugs R on the plate G.

The operation of the parts will be obvious from the description given.

The springs I preferably make of wire, bent as shown, and these may readily be replaced. or removed by detaching the plate G and inserting the spring, then in screwing up the nut II, which forces the spring in position as well as clamping the plate G and securing the front ends of the jaws B.

By having the jaws B separable the pins M can be made fixed in relation to the head, and thus there is no danger of losing the coupling-bolt, as in ordinary constructions.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination with the axle, and thilliron having side pins, of separable draft jaws or plates adapted to bear on the axle, a clipplate having lugs adapted to hold the draftjaws from spreading, an antirattling-spring, lugs on the clip-plate to hold said spring, and a clip-bolt for securing the several parts in their proper relation, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the thill-iron, a rounded head thereon, integral pins 011 the side of the head, separate jaws or plates having bearings engaging the pins, notched bearings on the plates with which the axle engages, the clip-bolt A, the clip-plate G having lugs I on the sides of the jaws, and the spring 0, the parts combined 'as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my sign aturo in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS BALLBACH.

\Vitnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, O. F. BARTHEL. 

